Pearl Harbor survivor Charles Ebel listens to speeches at the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Observance at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Rev. Charlene Robbins, a Gold Star Mother, listens as the Navy Hymn is played at the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Observance at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Members of the color guard take a moment to themselves at the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Observance at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Members of the color guard take a moment to themselves at the Pearl...

Former and present members of the military salute the colors at the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Observance at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Former and present members of the military salute the colors at the...

Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Langston, right, looks over newspaper clippings of the Pearl Harbor raid with his wife, Jean, at the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Observance at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Langston, right, looks over newspaper...

Color Guard member Bill Haggart presents colors at the Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Observance at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

All in attendance stand as the color guard leaves at the end of the ceremony honoring Pearl Harbor survivors at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

All in attendance stand as the color guard leaves at the end of the...

Three Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance are, from left to right, Charles Ebel, Bill Langston and A.J. Krenn at the J.E. Zaloga Post in Albany, N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2012. It is the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Three Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance are, from left to right,...

On Dec. 7, 1941, an aerial torpedo fired by a Japanese pilot blew Adolph "A.J." Krenn, a 19-year-old seaman first class, off the battleship USS West Virginia and into oil-laden harbor water. He said he woke up below water, swam to Ford Island and sprinted across an airfield to safety.

"I think I was more frightened when it was over," Krenn, 90, said Friday in the Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post 1520. He went on to serve for years in the Pacific during World War II.

The Delmar man was one of six living Pearl Harbor survivors in the Capital Region who were honored by elected officials and veterans in the legion on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Nearly 200 people, including three of the survivors, attended the event. They sat at round tables with family and friends in a large room filled with holiday decorations.

Charles Ebel, 93, of Guilderland, still recalls seeing bombs rain from the sky in the early morning of that day of "infamy." As a seaman first class, Ebel lost shipmates aboard the USS Curtiss in the bombing. He also witnessed a Japanese bomber crash on the deck of the Curtiss, a seaplane tender.

By the time the bombardments ceased, more than 2,400 Americans were dead and about half that many wounded. The loss of lives and sinking of American battleships led the U.S. to enter World War II.

"I feel like it was yesterday," Ebel said in an interview. "I still can see it. The sun coming up, the planes. There was so much smoke in the harbor."

Also honored at this year's ceremony were: William Langston of Cohoes, a fireman aboard the USS West Virginia who attended the event; Robert Grimm of Schenectady, a carpenters mate 1st class on the USS Cummings; Edward Bartholomew of Troy, a gunner's mate 1st class serving on the USS Pennsylvania; and Leonard W. Dooren of East Greenbush, a chief warrant officer on the USS New Orleans.

"This is a day that cannot and will not be forgotten," Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino told the crowd.

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko and Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy credited Pearl Harbor veterans for helping the U.S. bounce back to defeat Germany and Japan in the war.

Charlene Robbins, a Gold Star Mother and ordained minister, offered an opening and closing prayer at the ceremony. She spoke about Dec. 7 and the oath of service.

"They defended their shipmates and their country with their blood and very lives," said Robbins, whose son, Army Staff Sgt. Thomas Robbins of Delmar, died in Iraq in 2004.

He felt the history in the room, a history with which he said he was familiar.

"It was a sucker punch," Polsinelli said. "We got them."

Ebel and Krenn said they were thankful for the annual remembrance, and grateful for their lives. Both mentioned that honorary events remind them of those who didn't make it out of the fires at Pearl Harbor.

"I tell people I thank God I'm on top of the grass," Krenn said. "Our real heroes are down below."